Shaper Series: Interview with Sustainable Surf

At FUNNER Surf Craft, sustainability is essential—it's embedded in everything we do. That's why we're thrilled to be featured in Sustainable Surf’s Shaper Series. In this in-depth interview, our founder, Eddie Rosenberg, shares the journey behind FUNNER Surf Craft, the challenges of building eco-friendly boards, and the innovations redefining surfboard sustainability. From 3D-printed Air Cores to zero-VOC finishes, this conversation highlights how we’re shaping the future of surf craft without compromising the planet.

Below, you'll find the full interview from the Shaper Series, where Eddie discusses the inspiration, processes, and vision driving FUNNER Surf Craft's mission. Dive in to learn more about our approach to sustainability and what’s next on the horizon for eco-friendly surfboards.

Interview with Sustainable Surf

HOW DID YOU GUYS START/WHAT’S THE ORIGIN STORY? A dud glass job was the spark. One surf in, the new board was mangled with pressure dings, and the question percolated—why do we (surfers) have such a love affair with foam and fiberglass? Is better possible? I couldn’t shake the thought, so I started prototyping the next day.

IS THIS A PASSION PROJECT? Absolutely! We’re also a mission-driven startup with a big appetite for positive impact.

WHY ECO-FRIENDLY BOARDS? If we can do better, we should do better. That mindset is baked into FUNNER Surf Craft’s DNA. Humanity is facing a climate and pollution crisis. If we want the next generation to enjoy our natural world, every industry needs to divest from toxic manufacturing and invest in sustainability initiatives that move the needle with meaning. On an optimistic note, there’s a materials renaissance happening right now that’s creating goldilocks conditions for sustainable surfboard manufacturing—what a moment in time to build ECOBOARDS!

HOW ARE YOU CREATING ECO-FRIENDLY BOARDS? We fuse state-of-the-art robotics and timeless craftsmanship to build heirloom quality boards that don't break the bank—or our planet. That’s our mission, which leaves the door open to adopt and create better technologies over time. Diving deeper into our current process:

• Step 1: Our Air Cores (which function like parabolic rails) are 3D printed from 100% recycled PETG.

• Step 2: The Air Cores are encapsulated with Paulownia wood decking.

• Step 3: We internally laminate the Paulownia wood decking with natural basalt cloth and bio-based epoxy—eliminating the toxic release from sanding fiberglass and resin.

• Step 4: The external Paulownia surfaces are infused with hydrophobic, plant-derived oils. This Zero VOC treatment creates a durable, waterproof membrane and ensures a showroom finish for years to come.

DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH TO BUILDING/SHAPING ECO-FRIENDLY BOARDS. We focus on crafting shapes for the common surfer—those looking to catch more waves, ride longer lines, and link more turns. Don’t get us wrong, we love getting rippers on our boards; it’s just that the amplitude of impact correlates with scale. This is why we want to redefine the materials that are going into eggs, mini logs, fun shapes, etc.

Another key design mindset for us is accessibility. Specifically, keeping our surf craft affordable by maximizing board building efficiencies. For example, 3D printing our Air Cores enables us to eliminate the traditional glassing process, which saves us hundreds per board that gets invested into bio-based/reclaimed materials while maintaining the profit margins we need to operate. Check out our site if you get a chance; we’re really proud that our boards retail for prices that are competitive with the mass-produced ones.

HOW DID YOU COME ACROSS THE ECOBOARD PROJECT? A PNW shaper, Mike of Blackfern, was crafting me a 6’6” egg and tossed up the option to go ECOBOARD (which was a no-brainer). That was about 8 years ago. Mike, I’m still loving and riding that egg!

HOW HAS BEING PART OF THE ECOBOARD PROJECT HELPED YOU? This is way overdue at this point in the conversation—thank you for doing all you do! Everyday, you’re amplifying our shared mission, facilitating connections, introducing better, higher standards, the list goes on. We’re super lucky and grateful to receive such valuable support from Sustainable Surf and The ECOBOARD Project.

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE YOUR IMPACT IS/BEING PART OF THE ECOBOARD PROJECT DOES? Above all, I hope to foster interactions that matter, being a worthy steward of and participant in the ECOBOARD mission.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO IN THE FUTURE WITH THESE BOARDS? We want to keep pushing the boundaries of sustainable design. Right now, we’re looking at two major moves on the horizon. We’re transitioning to the world’s first 100% bio-based and BPA-free epoxy. Then, we’re bringing a new filament to market for 3D printing our Air Cores. It’s lighter, stronger, and directly fights ocean pollution. We’ll keep you posted!

WHO DO YOU HOPE THIS INSPIRES? Everyone with ideas to bring more sustainable design to life. From the manufacturing tools to the CAD software, it’s easier than ever to prototype a product and see if you’re on to something. So, I hope those with ideas to ‘make it better’ give it a shot. Quick note: we do a lot of our design in Shapr3D. The platform is incredibly intuitive and affordable compared to traditional CAD software. Check it out, and reach out to us if you have any questions on the matter.

ANY WORDS OF WISDOM/FUNNY MOMENTS/ICONIC/SPECIAL MOMENTS YOU WANT TO SHARE? Ask for help. That’s where the ultimate wisdom resides. From Oregon to New Zealand and Australia, ECOBOARD board builders across the globe are giving us a hand. Learning from this community is an inspiring adventure—one I hope we all get to experience.

Learn more about Sustainable Surf and the ECOBOARD Project here.